Combination haying machine



Jan. 5, 1954 S. D. RUSSELL Filed Nov. 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l 3 FIG-Z- Hi Z9 3,! V I "E i Er j 5 is 2a E 1 g fwd ATTORNEYS,

Jam 5, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL 2,664,634

COMBINATION HAYING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. .StanlegDRu5selZ ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 5, 1954 s. D. RUSSELL COMBINATION HAYING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 2, 1949 FIG. 5

FIGJO FIG. 9.

INVENTOR. Stanley D.RusseZZ Y X40414 bfawz AT TORN EYS.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 COMBINATION HAYING MACHINE Stanley D. Russell, Racine, Wis., assignor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis., a company of Wisconsin Application November 2, 1949, Serial No. 125,101

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination haying machine providing for the mowing, crushing and windrowing of hay in a single combined operation.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to combine the several operations of mowing, crushing and windrowing of hay in a single, simple apparatus.

Another object is to provide an improved crusher for hay.

Another object is to provide an improved feed for hay crushing mechanism.

Another object is to provide for the more uniform crushing of the hay.

Another object is to provide a simple tractor power take-off drive for a combination hay mower, crusher and windrower.

Another object is to provide a light-weight tractor drawn implement for mowing, crushing and windrowing hay.

; Another object is to provide an improved elevating mechanism for feeding freshly cut hay to a crusher in a combination field haying machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description of embodiments of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a combination haying machine embodying the invention;

q. Fig. 2'is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the ma- .chine of Fig. 1 taken from the mower end with the covering casing and the tractor omitted;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the crusher shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with the covering casing removed;

" Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified conistruction showing a reel type elevator;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is an end elevation of the machine of Fig. 5 taken from the mower end, similar to Fig. 3;

' Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of machine in which the crusher rolls extend 'ftransversely to the line of travel;

Fig. 9 is a schematic showing of the formation of a solid windrow; and

Fig. 10 is a similar showing of the formation he machineof the present invention" com-- bines in a single structure a mower I, a crusher 2 and a windrower 3, with appropriate conveying mechanism 4 therebetween, whereby, with a single pass, of the machine, over the standing crop in a field it is possible to produce windrows of crushed hay, which are ready for pick up and baling or transportation to the barn after a short drying.

The advantage of combining the operations referred to arises from the fact that haying time is usually critical due to moisture and weather conditions. The drying of crushed hay is faster due to the exposure of the internal juices to the atmosphere and wind when the hay is in a wind row. The hay curing time is thereby shortened and the hay is made ready for final baling or storage without undue waiting and with but a single pass over the field. Raking operations are eliminated and handling of the hay is reduced to a minimum, thereby substantially reducing hay loss from dropping of leaves and the like. Similarly contamination of the hay by excess contact and entanglement with dirt and stones is avoided.

The mower mechanism I comprises a forward- --1y directed transversely extending reciprocating sickle bar 5 operating in a guide rail 6 having shoes I. The sickle bar 5 is driven by any suitable means, usually a pitman 8 operated by the rotating' crank 9 which is turn is driven by a suitable chain I0 from the power take-01f shaft II for a tractor drive.

The mower mechanism l is carried by a frame I2 which is supported at the rear of the machine by suitable wheels I3 riding on the ground and at the front, at one end of the sickle bar by tractor hitch I4 and tractor I5.

drives lower roll I! directly from a sprocket on shaft II. An intermediate shaft I9 disposed above shaft II and generally parallel thereto is geared directly to shaft II to be driven thereby in a reverse direction. A chain 20 drivingly connects shaft I9 and the shaft 2| and chain 22 operating from shaft 2| drives upper roll I6. The roll I6 is mounted on arms 23 extending from shaft 2| to provide for pivoted floating of the roll on the shaft 2 I, and the roll I6 is suitably spring biased toward the lower crusher roll I'l.

The rolls l6 and I! are of the same length and should be sufiiciently short in length to prevent excess springing apart at the center. By positioning the crusher rolls [6 and I! as described they can be substantially shorter than the sickle bar 5, a feature which permits the use of a long sickle bar giving a wide swath out.

By driving the crusher rolls directlyirom takes off shaft H, in the manner indicated, it is not. necessary to employ beveled gearing, and the speed need not be reduced from the standard. speed of about 550 R. P. M. of mos tractor power take-offs.

Various crusher roll constructions may be. 1 ployed in the general combination of the invention. Where the crusher rolls l6 and I! are relatively short as in small machines they may be, constructed of single cylindrical members integral for the full length and having end trunnions operating in suitable bearings. The upper roll it should b l atin under a hea y pr ng pres.- sure biasing the s m tow rd the lower ro l, asdescribed.

e rolls, it and. H o the us er mechani m 2 are cylindrical, of neral y moo h. ont ur and carry correspondin ends f: thennber apron as, and the. inclined endless eed. a r n 4,, e spectively.

The opposi el wer end of apron. 4. a ried by o l r 26 is disposed. a ieoen t e d. f con veyor 4 to r ceive th p an herefr m. as d scribed. Th correspond n o posi end of the upper apron 2 is carried y roller.- whi h i mounted on sha t 21 and s spaced. ubs antially above the lower feed apron. 3 to ow h la ts to pass therebeneath to be ni ia y mp ct d between aprons 2. and 5 as t ey ap r ach the crushing rolls Hi and H.

The crop material is. actuall rush d b t een aprons 24 a 25 passing over ro s l5 and Both aprons may o c n as. and ay ha e a coating f soft ubber to e the efiee o n wringer in thev crushing operat on The crusher mechanism 2 is disposed to dis.- charge the cr shed hay or crop mater a i o the windrower 3. comprising a housing 28, which is open at the bottom, whereby the materie dr ps onto the round a. narrow d ow 9 trailing the machine.

h in lination f. apron 2 ne d not be very great, and should not be uch as. o. inte ie e with the feeding of the crop material to the crusher rolls.

The windrow ,29 may b either oi h s ea le solid type. showninoFisi 9 and w ich. the ey is merely dropped upon th r undv loose the machine mov s forward, or it may be oi he. 11 1: low type shown in Fi :v ill, by drop ing t e so up n e m 36. as how en leent o n nd n application Ser al No: 7.4. 3 filed May 5, 1.947., above reierred o.

The c nvey r mechanism t omprises an n l ss be t onveyor 3 xt n ing ho i on ally b nd th ower m hanism l and moun ed nbon apair of e d lls 32 and. 33 d sposed pa allel t crusher rolls l6 and H! and at the oppo i e ends of the sickle bar 5.

The. width of the co eyors 24 3| houl correspond to the length o the rusher rolls- The speed of movement of the conveyors may v y pending up n the e ults des red.-

The drive for apron Z been descri ed previo sly as compr sing chain is from he newe takei haft H- he rive for conveyor 3'! com.- p ises al ir of sprockets 34 disposed at corre- -1- sponding ends of the rolls 33 and 26 and connected by chain 35. In addition, in case there is any tendency for apron 24 to slip upon roll 26, a chain 36 is provided between corresponding drive and driven sprockets 31 and 38 at corresponding ends of rolls I! and 26', respectively.

The construction of Figs. 5 through 7 avoids the use of the inclined apron 24, and instead, conveyor 4 is disposed at, the height of the lower crusher roll I! and may even pass thereover, if desired. In this construction the hay is elevated from the siclgle bar 5 by means of a reel 39 which serves the purpose of the usual harvester reel, and whigh additionally serves to elevate the freshly cut hay to the conveyor 4. For this purpose, a curved sheet metal ramp so is provided adjacent ile path of the reel blades and extending from just behind sickle bar 5 to the front edge of the top flight of conveyor 4.

The blades of reel 39 move the crop material up ardly rearw ifdly along the sur ace of ramp it. a, d d. arse the same on o c nveyor.- 4 pr sin the a ron 4 c ied by the cyl ndrical rolls 42 and 43.

The nosi enof he tells oioror ma eriel e etive to the cr sher r s hic w l be her-c n after described ma e ad usted r the par icular material by increasing or deereasing the speed of conveyor ii. When conveyor 41 moves rapidly it has a tendency to pull the tops ofthe out plants toward the crusher rolls before the butt ends are free from-the succeeding plants being cut. This effects a diagonal positioning of the plants upon conveyor 4 and the plants tend to pass through the crusher rolls, on a bias head first. The diagonal slant of the plants can be changed by increasing or decreasing the speed of operation.

The machine may havea feed control apron 44 carried by the roller 45 which is disposed and spaced above the conveyor apron 4|, and by the roller 46 immediately above roll 13 carrying the apron. Roller 56 is prefer-ablymounted to float and is spring biased downwardly against roll 43 to compact the plants as they reach the end of apron M of conveyor 51 into a heavy- The crusher rolls comprise the powerdriven upper and lower rolls 4'! and 23 and are disposed adjacent the end of conveyor 6 to receive the compacted plants. The larger upper roll ll is provided with a plurality or spaced rub-bars 49 xtending longi udi ally of the r an hic ush. the p ants a a nst th low smoo h c ndr al oll 4 the o erat on oi he c usher and ap mechanism of Figs. 5 through '7 the conveyor belt s adapted. t ar y a airly he v str am of p a s a mode ate. l near elocity o bet r examp e no o 690 feet per m n t or sponding to the capacity of the cutter. The rolls al nd it ne riv n. to. rota e. oh os t dir tions a c nsid ably h her her r erel s e s o between 3000 to 6000 feet per minute depending on t e n ture o t-l e material to. be ru e T relle. withdr w the p ant in a i stream f om the retarded icker mat of ants w iehls continu us y dis ha ed rom b tween ap ons 4i a 44.

n ra tice. it has been found tha a a o of approximat 9 1 between he lin ar velocities of he con eyor and, th crushing lls. P d e uni orm. ushin nd earing of the s alk passing between rolls 4'! and 48; The uniformity p o ided in crush n ma e possible he o ting, curing and baling of the crop in the same day.

If desired, an additional retarding of the crop material at the point of discharge from the conveyor may be obtained by operating the feed control apron 44 at a lower speed than the conveyor apron 4|. This tends to gather the hay between the two aprons and to hold it against the pull of the crushing rolls 4! and 48.

Another modification of the broad aspect of the invention is illustrated in the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, which does not have many of the detail features and advantages of the other embodiments illustrated.

In Fig. 8 the crushing rolls 50 and are disposed parallel to sickle bar 5 and have the same length. An inclined apron 52 receives the cut hay from a sickle bar 5 and carries the same rearwardly upward and into the crusher rolls. The conveyor 4 lies back of the crusher rolls and transports the crushed crop material laterally to the windrow housing 28 where the material drops off from the end of the conveyor and onto the ground in a trailing windrow formation.

The several embodiments of the invention described comprise a mower, crusher and windrower combined in a single machine which eliminates excess handling of hay in the field and leaves the hay in a crushed condition for rapid windrow drying.

The invention may have various embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination in a single haying machine, a mobile frame, a sickle mower of substantial length carried by said frame, an inclined apron on said frame behind the mower disposed to receive the cut crop material, a pair of crusher rolls carried by said frame at the upper end of the apron having a length generally corresponding to the length of the mower and adapted to crush crop material fed thereto by said apron, a cross conveyor carried by the frame behind and on the bile frame, a mower carried by the frame and facing forwardly thereof, a reel carried by the frame and facing forwardly thereof to engage standing crop material and to tip the same rearwardly as it is cut by said mower, a curved ramp corresponding in curvature generally to the outer path of the reel carried by said frame and extending rearwardly and upwardly from said mower to receive fallen cut crop material, said reel being disposed to co-operate with said ramp to effect upward movement of the crop material and discharge of the same rearwardly at the top of the ramp, an endless belt conveyor carried by the frame at the top of the ramp and extending transversely of the machine to receive crop material from the ramp and deliver the same laterally to one side of the machine, crusher means operatively associated with said conveyor for crushing the crop material, and means to discharge the crop material from said crusher means in windrow formation upon the ground.

3. In combination in a single haying machine, a mobile frame, a sickle mower of substantial length carried by said framev and facing forwardly thereof to cut crop material, a conveyor means on said frame and operatively associated with said mower to receive cut material therefrom, a pair of coacting crusher means carried by said frame and operatively associated with said conveyor to receive cut material therefrom, and a windrower carried by said frame in opera tive association with said crusher means to receive crushed material therefrom and to deposit the same upon the ground in a windrow trailing the machine at the side opposite from the standing crop material as the machine moves along the edge of a stand of crop material.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which said crusher means are disposed adjacent the windrower and constitute a pair of rolls substantially shorter than the length of the sickle mower with the axes of the rolls extending substantially parallel to the line of travel of the frame, and said conveyor means includes a transverse belt behind the sickle mower and disposed to carry the cut crop material from the mower to the crusher rolls.

STANLEY D. RUSSELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 79,871 Sprague July 14, 1868 1,823,387 Campbell Sept. 15, 1931 1,905,410 Innes Apr. 25, 1933 1,938,264 Templeton Dec. 5, 1933 1,958,910 Christiansen May 15, 1934 1,960,596 Rimple May 29, 1934 1,972,680 Cushman Sept. 4, 1934 2,114,580 Thompson Apr. 19, 1938 2,342,282 Hill Feb. 22, 1944 2,345,715 Reed Apr. 4, 1944 

